Barnwell suggests how 49ers could use Eagles model to pay stars originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The 49ers face the difficult task of paying all of their star players on lucrative contracts, but could another NFC rival’s model be something San Francisco pursues to retain its blue chip talent? ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes so.
During an appearance on “NFL Live,” Barnwell suggested the 49ers could follow a similar path to the Philadelphia Eagles, who will pay a record amount for their offensive players during the 2024 NFL season.
“On the one hand, you know it’s hard. But I look around the league, and there’s a team that has succeeded, and it’s the Philadelphia Eagles,” Barnwell explained. “They are spending $213 million in cash on their offense this year, the most of any team in the history of the National Football League. But think of all the players they were able to pay on the offensive side of the roster.
“[Quarterback] Jalen Hurts makes a market deal. [Running back] Saquon Barkley. Two star receivers in AJ Brown and Devonta Smith. [Tight end] Dallas Goedert. [Left tackle] Jordan Mailata. [Right tackle] Lane Johnson. [Center] Landon Dickerson. They’re kind of playing ‘Hey, you can have your cake and eat it too’ if you’re offended.”
Barnwell went on to explain that the 49ers face another hurdle due to the draft capital they parted with in the March 2021 trade for the No. 3 overall pick that San Francisco used on quarterback Trey Lance, citing that there is still is a way to maintain his stock. of attacking stars.
“I think you have to line up very well and that can be a problem because the [49ers] don’t have those three first-round picks from the Trey Lance trade on their roster. But I do believe that if they are really committed to keeping this offense together – you may have to sacrifice other places – but you can make it work.
San Francisco boasts perhaps the NFL’s most talented group of offensive players, with wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey among the group of First-Team All-Pro weapons under contract with the 49ers through at least 2025.
However, quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk are expected to receive substantial contracts in the near future, which could force San Francisco to get creative with the financial logistics of keeping its star-studded cast together.
While the long-term prospects remain uncertain, the 49ers are focused on maximizing their window with all of their players during the 2024 season in an effort to capture the franchise’s sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy, which the franchise has won for nearly three decades escapes.
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